New Life Bible Fellowship Church
9-1-24
      • Bible Trivia
        Loading...

      • Psalm 96:7–10ESV

  • In Christ Alone
  • The Solid Rock

      • Psalm 102ESV

  • Doxology

  • Introduction:

    In our journey through this timeless, glorious Gospel of John, we have seen thus far how Jesus, the Christ, is the implementor of the New Covenant through the events of the last three sermons. We saw him change water to wine showing himself to be the giver of true cleansing and salvation. He than cleanses the temple thereby signifying that he himself was the temple of God, the one who is God with us! In the great profound passage from chapter three last week, we were shown that unless we are born again from above by looking to Jesus and being created anew, we will not enter the Kingdom of God.
    This morning, we will once again look at the final Testimony of John the Baptist from John 3:22-36, as he reiterates in great detail the purpose and priority of Jesus, the Son of God.

    Text: John 3:22-36

    John 3:22–36 ESV
    22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for John had not yet been put in prison). 25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

    Main Idea: Since Jesus is the only one sent by the Father to bring new birth, it is only through trust in him can we escape the wrath of God and have eternal life.

    I. The Setting (22-26)

    A. Two Groups of Baptizers (22-24)

    (22) After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.
    After this - After Passover-week and the interview with Nicodemus,
    Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside - Jesus, in the company of his disciples (probably the six mentioned or referred to in 1:35–51), left Jerusalem and came into the country-district of Judea, more then likely, not far from Jericho, near the fords of the Jordan river.
    he remained there with them and was baptizing - Or, Jesus was overseeing his disciples (John 4:2 “2 (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples),” ) as they continued administering the baptism of John, which was based on repentance and which symbolized purification from sin.
    (23) John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
    John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there - Though its exact location is in doubt, the view that its site was near the juncture of Samaria, Perea, and Decapolis, where there is a group of seven springs. Not far to the north lies Galilee. Hence, this place was centrally located, within easy reach for people of four provinces, and furnished with a goodly supply of water for baptizing.
    (24) (for John had not yet been put in prison).
    John had not yet been put in prison alerts readers to the fact that everything that has happened up to this point in John’s Gospel takes place prior to Mark 1:14 (“after John was arrested”).
    Unlike the Synoptics (Matt. 14:3–12; Mark 6:17–29; Luke 3:19; 9:7–9), this gospel does not report the occasion or outcome of John’s imprisonment, though it notes its occurrence.

    B. Jealousy of John’s Disciples (25-26)

    (25) Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.
    a discussion (zetesis [noun] - debate, dispute, controversy) arose - The parallel ministry of Jesus and John resulted in a dispute between admirers of the latter and a Jew who favored the former. The argument was begun by the disciples of John, who probably ascribed superior (or exclusive) purifying efficacy to the baptism of their teacher, since John had been at it longer then Jesus.
    Filled with dissatisfaction caused by the constantly increasing multitudes which gathered about Jesus and the gradually dwindling crowds which remained with John, the disciples of John ran to their master with the words of bitter complaint…
    (26) And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
    he who was with you across the Jordan - In the spirit of jealousy and anger they purposely avoid even mentioning the name of Jesus. As they see it, Jesus and John are rivals, competitors.
    to whom you bore witness - They seem not to have been very pleased with the fact that John had borne testimony to Jesus. Their words probably constitute a veiled rebuke.
    look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him - They make full use of the figure of speech called hyperbole, “All are going to him,” i.e., soon you’ll be without any follower.

    II. John’s Testimony of Himself (27-30)

    A. John’s Reminder (27-28)

    (27) John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
    A person cannot receive. God is the author of all that we receive (1 Cor. 4:7), so John is content to see Jesus receiving the greater honor that the Father was bestowing on Him (John 1:15, 20–27).
    unless it is given him from heaven - again we see the absolute of God’s work alone in anyone receiving anything heavenly or spiritual.
    (28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
    You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ - this is not a surprise, if you will remember, John said, I am not the Christ.
    The Baptist’s assertion that he has been sent before the Messiah alludes to Mal. 3:1, which is directly applied to the Baptist in Matt. 11:10; Mark 1:2; and Luke 7:27.
    John further explains using a parable of a bride and bridegroom…

    B. John’s Explanation (29-30)

    (29) The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
    the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, like the best man in weddings today, does not resent but rejoices in the fact that the bride belongs to her groom. John’s parable evokes OT imagery in which the Lord is husband and Israel is His bride (Is. 62:5; Jer. 2:2, 3; Ezek. 16; Hos. 2).
    The Baptist’s reference to Jesus as the bridegroom (cf. Matt. 9:15 par.) identifies Jesus as Israel’s long-awaited King and Messiah. Christ is seen as the church’s bridegroom, see Eph. 5:25–27; Rev. 19:7–8:
    Revelation 19:7–8 ESV
    7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
    this joy of mine is now complete - John was content to fulfill his part in God’s eternal plan and now is ready to step out of the way to allow God’s plan to continue.
    (30) He must increase, but I must decrease.” - At this point in salvation history, the messianic eternal light has come (John 1:6–9), and therefore, the temporary “lamp” has done its work (John 5:35)
    John 1:6–9 ESV
    6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
    John 5:33–36 ESV
    33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

    III. John’s Testimony of Christ (31-36)

    Instead of John and Jesus being rivals, John sets the record straight…

    A. Christ is Superior in Origin and Witness (31-32)

    (31) He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
    He who comes from above - as we see how Jesus is distinguished from all other humans who are “of the earth”, showing his origin was in heaven
    is above (epano [preposition] - far above, considerably superior to) all (pas [adjective] - fullest extant) - used 2x times in this verse for emphasis,
    He who is of the earth (ge [genitive noun] - of earth) belongs to (eimi [pre, act, ind] - to have the quality of being) the earth - shows our preoccupation with earthly things.
    He who comes from heaven is above all - show the intense priority and predominance of heaven over the earth.
    Isaiah 40:22 ESV
    22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
    (32) He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.
    What he has seen and heard refers to Jesus’ eternal existence in heaven and his infinite knowledge of God’s nature and counsels.
    no one receives his testimony. John repeats the idea that neither Christ’s own nation nor the world at large is ready to receive Him (cf. 1:10, 11). The barrier is the sin and blindness that God alone can penetrate (v. 3; cf. 1:5), not wanting anything or anybody to invade our little claustrophobic world.
    John 1:10–11 ESV
    10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

    B. Belief in Christ’s Witness Gives Eternal Life (33-36)

    (33) Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.
    Whoever receives his testimony. The world in general has refused the light, but John immediately mentions those who are coming to the light, especially himself as the first exponent of the truth. John’s preaching is the culmination of the OT and the beginning of the New (1:15; cf. Matt. 11:11).
    sets his seal to this, that God is true. A seal made of wax, clay, or various kinds of soft metal would signify either ownership or authentication of an item or a document; thus receiving, believing, trusting Christ’s testimony authenticates God’s eternal truth in the life of the receiver.
    (34) For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
    For he whom God has sent utters the words of God - shows that those who have been commissioned by God, are true representatives of God, and speak in his place.
    for he gives the Spirit without measure. These words probably apply to the Spirit-empowered earthly ministry of Jesus (Luke 3:22; 4:1). But it is also possible that they refer to the fullness of the Spirit that Jesus gives to those who serve Him…after His ascension, Jesus is the agent who sends the Spirit (1:33; 15:26; Acts 2:1–4, 33).
    (35) The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.
    The Father … has given all things into his hand - indicates supreme authority for the Father in the counsels of the Trinity, and a delegated authority over the whole created universe for the Son, as is indicated also in many other NT passages ( Heb. 1:2-3). Yet at the same time, the Father, Son, and Spirit are fully God in the unity of a single divine being.
    Hebrews 1:2–3 ESV
    2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
    Therefore, all of this amounts to the eternal truth that…
    (36) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
    Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Believing in the Son is more than intellectual assent. Trust in Christ’s person will inevitably motivate obedience to His words, for…
    Note that belief and obey become synonymous verbs…
    whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him - again, there is no middle road, it’s trusting in Christ or not trusting in Christ; disobedience reveals a lack of saving faith (see Heb. 3:18, 19)
    Hebrews 3:18–19 ESV
    18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

    So What?

    Do we understand that all we have received by the way of gifts, talents, etc. have come from God and is to be used for his glory?
    Can we truly say that we want Christ to be magnified in our life even if he chooses to remove us and put someone else in our place to continue in his eternal plan?
    Have you put your trust in the Son of God, evidenced by your obedience to him, or are you still under God’s wrath?

      • John 3:22–36ESV

      • John 3:22–24ESV

      • John 3:25–26ESV

      • John 3:27–28ESV

      • John 3:29–30ESV

      • Revelation 19:7–8ESV

      • John 1:6–9ESV

      • John 5:33–36ESV

      • John 3:31ESV

      • Isaiah 40:22ESV

      • John 3:32ESV

      • John 1:10–11ESV

      • John 3:33–36ESV

      • Hebrews 1:2–3ESV

      • Hebrews 3:18–19ESV

  • Amazing Grace
New Life Bible Fellowship Church
dick.bickings@gmail.com
(302) 945-8145
https://newlifebfcde.org
16 members • 1 follower